A much-loved animated gem, Despicable Me 2, has hit new milestones on its return to the streaming screens. The popular animated movie has managed to secure a spot on Netflix’s Weekly Top 10 list of the most-watched movies across the globe, and this marks its remarkable tenth week on the list.
Serving as a sequel to the 2010 animated sensation, Despicable Me, created by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, Despicable Me 2 initially hit the screens in 2013. The film stars Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig, who portray Gru and Lucy, respectively. Now, with a family of three adorable young girls, Gru finds himself drafted into the good guys’ team to take down a fresh supervillain threat.
On August 1, Netflix reintroduced Despicable Me 2 on its platform, and during the period spanning from August 7 to 13, the movie garnered an impressive 4.8 million views. The film has been on the Top 10 list for a total of ten non-consecutive weeks, proving its massive popularity.
Furthermore, the movie has secured the second-highest viewership among films in the United States. In fact, it is even surpassing the popularity of the first film, the original Despicable Me.
Although some of the titles featured on Netflix’s Weekly Top 10, like Happiness for Beginners and Heart of Stone, made their debuts within the past few weeks, Despicable Me 2 stands out as a decade-old film.
However, this recent surge in popularity for the Despicable Me franchise is not a coincidence. Many may recall the “Gentle Minions” TikTok trend from last July, during which teenagers donned suits and flocked to theaters to watch the Despicable Me spinoff, Minions: The Rise of Gru. This serves as just one example of the animated franchise’s consistent popularity among audiences over time.
The surge in streaming viewership of Despicable Me 2 could also potentially be linked to the recent unveiling of Minions Land at Universal Studios Florida. This new attraction boasts a Minions-themed café and a Gru laboratory, likely contributing to a heightened interest in the franchise. For many fans, Despicable Me continues to hold a prominent place in their thoughts.
Furthermore, other timeless animated films like The Bee Movie and Madagascar 3 are also experiencing an increase in popularity on Netflix within the United States. This could be attributed to the relatively less demanding summer schedules that families typically have, allowing them the opportunity to revisit cherished classics together.
As the summer season draws to a close and students return to their academic routines, it’s plausible that Despicable Me 2 might lose its position on the Netflix rankings. Nevertheless, considering the anticipated reduction in fresh content production due to the ongoing strikes involving writers and actors in Hollywood, there exists a possibility that the Minions craze could endure well beyond the summer timeframe.
This sustained interest could stem from the audience’s urge to turn to familiar and comforting movies amid these circumstances.
About Despicable Me 2
Despicable Me 2 is a 2013 American computer-animated comedy film directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, and written by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio.
The sequel to Despicable Me (2010), it was produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. It stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, and Ken Jeong.
The film follows Gru as he is recruited by secret agent Lucy Wilde, who is investigating a theft of the mutagen PX-41, stolen from the Arctic Circle. During their investigations, they extract El Macho, a supervillain with the goal of achieving world domination after faking his death.
Source: Netflix Global Top 10
No Comments on Despicable Me 2 Wins Hearts on Netflix A Decade After Release